BD,
You make valid points above that I agree with. I for one will use most of those additions, but I do understand completely the complexity of doing them.
I just find it unfair to call the game unchanged when there has been a lot of stuff on the field that has been added, tweaked, improved etc.
I'm by no means trying to state that the game is perfect. IMO, it's very solid game on the field. Maybe they should just give a roster update and then do nothing to the gameplay and concentrate totally on graphics and presentation. That probably would make the mainstream more happy then giving the player more control on the field.
Back to addressing the quick slant as being a money play. I cannot speak for offline because other than playing an exhibition game or two, I haven't played offline. It very well may be a money offline against the cpu and if it is, I guess come up with some house rules so that you do not abuse it. There are very few sports games that I know of where you cannot find things to exploit.
Official Madden 2006 Impressions Thread
Moderators: Bill_Abner, ScoopBrady
I think where EA messed up this generation is they never did an overhaul of their graphics engine. Within each generation they should have one graphical overhall (midway so in this generation I would say version 2004). I have said all along they have screwed the Xbox owners up one end and and down another by not only failing to take advantage of the hardware, and in many cases making the game play worse on the superior machine. You have seen where I have showed the difference between ESPN at the first of the generation compared to now. They did have that overhaul midstream.I'm by no means trying to state that the game is perfect. IMO, it's very solid game on the field. Maybe they should just give a roster update and then do nothing to the gameplay and concentrate totally on graphics and presentation. That probably would make the mainstream more happy then giving the player more control on the field.
My other gripe are the features the past few years (NCAA & Madden). Okay they make a new Franchise mode in Madden 2004 (I think)? 2005 Fear the D, Hitstick and Storyline Central. In NCAA you have HFA in 2005. It just seems like they forget about these features the year after. I mean have they really done anything to HFA in 2006? Heck I turned it off as it seems as useless as the year before. So a person invests time into learning the new cone passing but will it even be in Madden 2006 for the Xbox 360? Or in 2007? Especially with it getting ripped by numerous mainstream reviewers.
I agree that it is not fair to say it is unchanged in the features department and all the changes added you added that makes the pre-snap aspect of the game more realistic. The problem still lies that it is relatively unchanged in graphics, animations and presenation department. People like to see things improve graphically in every genere (Sports, FPS, etc, etc).
No it's not. Trust me...I've been picked off by the CPU on several slant patterns. It's not anywhere near a money play. As a matter of fact, I had a few plays last year in the Cowboys playbook that I could complete at a very high percentage. This year, the don't work nearly as well.TRI wrote:bdoughty wrote:No one in their right mind that hates EA games this much would continue to buy them right?
Oh whoops I thought you meant EA the "Company". Yes I do agree.
Belive what you want but it is a money play.
I don't think I have seen anything that works over and over.
I don't remember who it was at OS but there was a Cowboy fan obsessed with rain and snow inside Texas Stadium. This year they got their wish. I try a game with weather on to see if it happens. I don't remember if it did this in 2005 due to limited time with the game, but it's definately there this year.
I would like to see the guys who do the presentation for NCAA walk across the hall and help out the guys who do the presentation for Madden. Then I would like to see the guys who do the AI/gameplay for Madden walk across the hall and help out the guys who do the same for NCAA.
I like the new vision passing. While the implementation could have been a little more intuitive, it feels like football. You really have to be able to recognize the blitz and have an outlet receiver or get rid of the ball quickly.
I like the new vision passing. While the implementation could have been a little more intuitive, it feels like football. You really have to be able to recognize the blitz and have an outlet receiver or get rid of the ball quickly.
Well, looking at my Rams schedule - Preseason game 1 Friday August 12th at home vs the Bears.. looking at the Bears website it has Miami as game 1 for the Bears, in fact the Bears play 5 preseason games. Weird.Danimal wrote:Did anyone else start their franchise?
I did with the Bears and my first pre-season game was against the Rams. Now I could swear that the Bears played their first game last night against the pot heads...I mean Dolphins.
f***in Madden, how hard is it to get something like this right.
ps2baseball - the uniform freak... The bears are wearing the wrong socks!!!bdoughty wrote:I don't remember who it was at OS but there was a Cowboy fan obsessed with rain and snow inside Texas Stadium. This year they got their wish. I try a game with weather on to see if it happens. I don't remember if it did this in 2005 due to limited time with the game, but it's definately there this year.
GAME KILLA!
I am sure that's what it is -- the franchise mode has always only allowed 4 preseason games. They probably just skipped those first couple of early ones.Dave wrote:Do you think the scheduling system in place only allows for 4 preseason games? Check out the Colts and Falcons, if the Tokyo game is missing as well, then I bet they can only have 4 preseason games/team.
Thanks for all the impressions, I'm definitely going to get Madden by the weekend.
Played a game at EB last night. Whatever... 
Same old stuff. I have virtually no interest in the game this year. Perhaps the 'next gen' version will inspire me.
One thing that still strikes me as absolutely unacceptable is the graphics on the X-Box version. WTF!?!?!?! How can EA still not port this thing correctly? We had it running on 3 kiosks, one for each version (GC, PS2 & Box). While the GC and PS2 versions were bright, colorful and clear, the X-Box version is as washed out and blurry looking as ever. I know most of us have noticed this in the past, but I just cannot grasp why EA continues to port the game over to the X-Box looking like this!?!? Why is the grass a grayish color? Can the X-Box not do green or grass textures?
Total and complete BULLSH*T!
Same old stuff. I have virtually no interest in the game this year. Perhaps the 'next gen' version will inspire me. One thing that still strikes me as absolutely unacceptable is the graphics on the X-Box version. WTF!?!?!?! How can EA still not port this thing correctly? We had it running on 3 kiosks, one for each version (GC, PS2 & Box). While the GC and PS2 versions were bright, colorful and clear, the X-Box version is as washed out and blurry looking as ever. I know most of us have noticed this in the past, but I just cannot grasp why EA continues to port the game over to the X-Box looking like this!?!? Why is the grass a grayish color? Can the X-Box not do green or grass textures?
Total and complete BULLSH*T!
XBL Gamertag: Spooky Disco
Am I doing something wrong or is the custom soundtrack option pretty much worthless? I went in to the jukebox and turned off all that rap crap and added about 20 songs of my own. Then I played a game and during the game I heard all of the awful music that I had just turned off. Also I didn't hear any of my songs during the game, just in the menus.
Is there a setting I need to change somewhere else in order to get the music I want to be played during the games or is this another great EA idea where the custom soundtrack feature works where you spend 10% of your time, but doesn't work where you spend 90% of your time?
Is there a setting I need to change somewhere else in order to get the music I want to be played during the games or is this another great EA idea where the custom soundtrack feature works where you spend 10% of your time, but doesn't work where you spend 90% of your time?
Actually, on the graphics, I see some problems with the PS2 version.
First of all, the PS2 online menus are so slow as to be unuseable at times. You can't navigate at all becomes sometimes it takes several seconds for a response to a button press. They tried to put in some animation effects and those crawl across the screen. Maybe the servers are the problem.
Once you start game though, no lag in general. However, when you score a TD, there is a slight pause or skipped frame because they're putting up a damn "Touchdown" banner at the top of the screen. The pauses occur at some other times too, usually when you're trying to convert a first down and again, it comes up with either "First Down" or "Fourth Down" overlay.
Some people who'd previewed both versions said the Xbox doesn't have these problems, that it's smoother.
First of all, the PS2 online menus are so slow as to be unuseable at times. You can't navigate at all becomes sometimes it takes several seconds for a response to a button press. They tried to put in some animation effects and those crawl across the screen. Maybe the servers are the problem.
Once you start game though, no lag in general. However, when you score a TD, there is a slight pause or skipped frame because they're putting up a damn "Touchdown" banner at the top of the screen. The pauses occur at some other times too, usually when you're trying to convert a first down and again, it comes up with either "First Down" or "Fourth Down" overlay.
Some people who'd previewed both versions said the Xbox doesn't have these problems, that it's smoother.
I saw the touchdown issue in the demo running on our kiosk fopr PS2 as well. I'd still take that over the crappy muted colrs and blur on the X-Box version. It really has no bearing on gameplay, but I just find it ridiculous.wco81 wrote:Actually, on the graphics, I see some problems with the PS2 version.
First of all, the PS2 online menus are so slow as to be unuseable at times. You can't navigate at all becomes sometimes it takes several seconds for a response to a button press. They tried to put in some animation effects and those crawl across the screen. Maybe the servers are the problem.
Once you start game though, no lag in general. However, when you score a TD, there is a slight pause or skipped frame because they're putting up a damn "Touchdown" banner at the top of the screen. The pauses occur at some other times too, usually when you're trying to convert a first down and again, it comes up with either "First Down" or "Fourth Down" overlay.
Some people who'd previewed both versions said the Xbox doesn't have these problems, that it's smoother.
XBL Gamertag: Spooky Disco
ya this is one of my big issues with EA. At least they fixed up ncaa this year on xbox, but why not madden?Spooky wrote:I saw the touchdown issue in the demo running on our kiosk fopr PS2 as well. I'd still take that over the crappy muted colrs and blur on the X-Box version. It really has no bearing on gameplay, but I just find it ridiculous.wco81 wrote:Actually, on the graphics, I see some problems with the PS2 version.
First of all, the PS2 online menus are so slow as to be unuseable at times. You can't navigate at all becomes sometimes it takes several seconds for a response to a button press. They tried to put in some animation effects and those crawl across the screen. Maybe the servers are the problem.
Once you start game though, no lag in general. However, when you score a TD, there is a slight pause or skipped frame because they're putting up a damn "Touchdown" banner at the top of the screen. The pauses occur at some other times too, usually when you're trying to convert a first down and again, it comes up with either "First Down" or "Fourth Down" overlay.
Some people who'd previewed both versions said the Xbox doesn't have these problems, that it's smoother.
I really like the gameplay in Madden...but as far as I am concerned they can spend the next 2 years on graphical/presentation enhancements. Hell, they could spend an entire year improving the sound alone. Why does it seem like the Madden team has never been to a real NFL game? They've certainly never been to Heinz Field or even seen a good picture of it.bdoughty wrote:Many people including myself would just like to have seen some effort put into graphics/presentation. It can be done, I have seen it on games in this gerneration.
I can use all those new commands, right stick, left stick, DPad, etc. to execute a perfect come-from-behind 95 yard TD drive in the final 2 minutes of the AFC Championship led by my Suprstar player with perfect DNA..only to have seem like I did it in the Tokyo Bowl.
They are still making the game for an out dated platform.Leebo33 wrote:I really like the gameplay in Madden...but as far as I am concerned they can spend the next 2 years on graphical/presentation enhancements. .bdoughty wrote:Many people including myself would just like to have seen some effort put into graphics/presentation. It can be done, I have seen it on games in this gerneration.
As soon as they join the rest of us in the 21 st century the graphics will be fine.
I only played one game but I must say I liked the feel. I will be playing alot. Id have played more but, like a couple of other geeks I wont name, Im stuck in the WoW.
What they really need to do for the next gen games is to take advantage of the added specs to put in commentary from all of the local commentators for all the teams! When I was watching that 'farewell/goodbye to ESPN football' piece, it hit me. That is what these games are lacking! That exciting, genuine commentary provided by people who actually care about they teams the represent. Imagine the radio guys from team 'X" going bonkers after you score a touchdown with that team. I know it would be extremely hard to develop that, especially for every single team, probably impossible, but damn it would be cool! The local guy commentary would only be for the home team too which would really add to the feeling of being the away team. Imagine being the away team and having to listen to the commentators go nuts after you get scored on.Leebo33 wrote:I really like the gameplay in Madden...but as far as I am concerned they can spend the next 2 years on graphical/presentation enhancements. Hell, they could spend an entire year improving the sound alone. Why does it seem like the Madden team has never been to a real NFL game? They've certainly never been to Heinz Field or even seen a good picture of it.bdoughty wrote:Many people including myself would just like to have seen some effort put into graphics/presentation. It can be done, I have seen it on games in this gerneration.
I can use all those new commands, right stick, left stick, DPad, etc. to execute a perfect come-from-behind 95 yard TD drive in the final 2 minutes of the AFC Championship led by my Suprstar player with perfect DNA..only to have seem like I did it in the Tokyo Bowl.
XBL Gamertag: Spooky Disco
Only 2 games in so far, so these are truly initial impressions only. Played one game offline and one bumble-fest against an indulgent CincyKid that was a 3-0 game truly worthy of last year's Bears team.
Major disclaimer. I haven't played Madden for about 3 years. I have no animosity whatsoever toward EA, dubious business practices notwithstanding, but just preferred the look and feel of ESPN.
1. Looks like a$$ compared to ESPN. Some of he animations are as good or better, but the overall graphics were startlingly inferior.
2. I adore the abundance of pre-snap options, but wonder at overall utility given the presence of a play clock and all.
3. The cone is interesting. Bland I know, but it's too early for me to draw any conclusions. It is frustrating, but it is making an entirely new demand on my attention that previously wasn't there.
Objectively speaking, I don't think it's fair to praise it simply because it's "more accurate." As much as we all worship at the alter of simulation, we need to keep in mind that we are all seeking an entertaining simulation. Simply making the game more complex doesn't necessarily make it more fun. If the cone (as it might be) is simulating something that is entirely real, but is ultimately generating an additional level of complexity where none is needed, it will be turned off by most.
Part of the problem that I see is this. I've felt for years that football games have done a fine job of making me to through my reads, pre-snap and post, in order to succeed. Sure, I could throw with unfair accuracy to any of my receiving options, but it was a minimal fudge so to speak. I just don't feel the need to manage the cone on top of things. But I remain open to it, and admit that it is a very progressive move for EA.
4. What's the deal with voice chat in this game? Does it cut off automatically ever so often, or was this some problem that Cincy and I were having? We kept having to click to re-establish our connection.
5. Cincy and I agreed that we didn't see any problem with lobbed long passes. In fact I threw up at least two to Mushin Muhammed in single coverage that I thinkg should've been caught which were batted down amazingly by DBs.
Overall, very solid with the disappoinment in graphics figured in. Anxious to see the 360 version.
Major disclaimer. I haven't played Madden for about 3 years. I have no animosity whatsoever toward EA, dubious business practices notwithstanding, but just preferred the look and feel of ESPN.
1. Looks like a$$ compared to ESPN. Some of he animations are as good or better, but the overall graphics were startlingly inferior.
2. I adore the abundance of pre-snap options, but wonder at overall utility given the presence of a play clock and all.
3. The cone is interesting. Bland I know, but it's too early for me to draw any conclusions. It is frustrating, but it is making an entirely new demand on my attention that previously wasn't there.
Objectively speaking, I don't think it's fair to praise it simply because it's "more accurate." As much as we all worship at the alter of simulation, we need to keep in mind that we are all seeking an entertaining simulation. Simply making the game more complex doesn't necessarily make it more fun. If the cone (as it might be) is simulating something that is entirely real, but is ultimately generating an additional level of complexity where none is needed, it will be turned off by most.
Part of the problem that I see is this. I've felt for years that football games have done a fine job of making me to through my reads, pre-snap and post, in order to succeed. Sure, I could throw with unfair accuracy to any of my receiving options, but it was a minimal fudge so to speak. I just don't feel the need to manage the cone on top of things. But I remain open to it, and admit that it is a very progressive move for EA.
4. What's the deal with voice chat in this game? Does it cut off automatically ever so often, or was this some problem that Cincy and I were having? We kept having to click to re-establish our connection.
5. Cincy and I agreed that we didn't see any problem with lobbed long passes. In fact I threw up at least two to Mushin Muhammed in single coverage that I thinkg should've been caught which were batted down amazingly by DBs.
Overall, very solid with the disappoinment in graphics figured in. Anxious to see the 360 version.
XBL Gamertag: RobVarak
"Ok I'm an elitist, but I have a healthy respect for people who don't measure up." --Aaron Sorkin
"Ok I'm an elitist, but I have a healthy respect for people who don't measure up." --Aaron Sorkin
I can't believe this isn't mentioned elsewhere or at any of the major sites that review the game. I guarantee that Gamespot never truly looks at the different versions because they always give the generic line "Xbox looks best, with the GC and PS2 close behind". In my opinion the graphical difference between the Xbox and GC versions of 2005 was just incredible (I don't have a PS2). I used my HD switcher to compare the games, and when I flicked over to the Xbox version my wife even commented that she thought something was wrong with the TV. The GC version is gorgeous while the Xbox version looks halfway between a PS2 and PS1 game. I realize that alot of people really seem to hate the Gamecube, but for anyone with a Cube that doesn't play online and can deal with the controller, Madden really is a beautiful looking game when compared to the Xbox version. The difference is night and day.Spooky wrote:
One thing that still strikes me as absolutely unacceptable is the graphics on the X-Box version. WTF!?!?!?! How can EA still not port this thing correctly? We had it running on 3 kiosks, one for each version (GC, PS2 & Box). While the GC and PS2 versions were bright, colorful and clear, the X-Box version is as washed out and blurry looking as ever. I know most of us have noticed this in the past, but I just cannot grasp why EA continues to port the game over to the X-Box looking like this!?!? Why is the grass a grayish color? Can the X-Box not do green or grass textures?
Total and complete BULLSH*T!
I really don't enjoy playing Madden online so I go with the GC version....even though the guys at the game store look at me like I'm crazy when I ask for it.
I'm actually glad to see Spooky post about this. I just saved myself a rental fee to see if it was the same old story for the 2006 version. I just wish there was more of a buzz from gamers and game sites to call out EA on it. There is no reason the Xbox version of Madden shouldn't look every bit as good as the Cube.
Spooky wrote:What they really need to do for the next gen games is to take advantage of the added specs to put in commentary from all of the local commentators for all the teams! When I was watching that 'farewell/goodbye to ESPN football' piece, it hit me. That is what these games are lacking! That exciting, genuine commentary provided by people who actually care about they teams the represent. Imagine the radio guys from team 'X" going bonkers after you score a touchdown with that team. I know it would be extremely hard to develop that, especially for every single team, probably impossible, but damn it would be cool! The local guy commentary would only be for the home team too which would really add to the feeling of being the away team. Imagine being the away team and having to listen to the commentators go nuts after you get scored on.Leebo33 wrote:I really like the gameplay in Madden...but as far as I am concerned they can spend the next 2 years on graphical/presentation enhancements. Hell, they could spend an entire year improving the sound alone. Why does it seem like the Madden team has never been to a real NFL game? They've certainly never been to Heinz Field or even seen a good picture of it.bdoughty wrote:Many people including myself would just like to have seen some effort put into graphics/presentation. It can be done, I have seen it on games in this gerneration.
I can use all those new commands, right stick, left stick, DPad, etc. to execute a perfect come-from-behind 95 yard TD drive in the final 2 minutes of the AFC Championship led by my Suprstar player with perfect DNA..only to have seem like I did it in the Tokyo Bowl.
Hopefully the PS3 should fix those things.
When you press the left analog stick in it mutes the voice chat. You should have a little mic in the bottom right hand corner of your screen. if it's red, push the left analog stick in and it will unmute.4. What's the deal with voice chat in this game? Does it cut off automatically ever so often, or was this some problem that Cincy and I were having? We kept having to click to re-establish our connection.
Stupid, I know. I end up muting every damn play because of my death grip on the controller.
Ya, same old story for the Xbox with Madden. I hate to keep bitching about this but it really irks me. They fix ncaa up on xbox but not madden, the #1 flagship franchise for EA? Makes no sense.btmmayor wrote:I can't believe this isn't mentioned elsewhere or at any of the major sites that review the game. I guarantee that Gamespot never truly looks at the different versions because they always give the generic line "Xbox looks best, with the GC and PS2 close behind". In my opinion the graphical difference between the Xbox and GC versions of 2005 was just incredible (I don't have a PS2). I used my HD switcher to compare the games, and when I flicked over to the Xbox version my wife even commented that she thought something was wrong with the TV. The GC version is gorgeous while the Xbox version looks halfway between a PS2 and PS1 game. I realize that alot of people really seem to hate the Gamecube, but for anyone with a Cube that doesn't play online and can deal with the controller, Madden really is a beautiful looking game when compared to the Xbox version. The difference is night and day.Spooky wrote:
One thing that still strikes me as absolutely unacceptable is the graphics on the X-Box version. WTF!?!?!?! How can EA still not port this thing correctly? We had it running on 3 kiosks, one for each version (GC, PS2 & Box). While the GC and PS2 versions were bright, colorful and clear, the X-Box version is as washed out and blurry looking as ever. I know most of us have noticed this in the past, but I just cannot grasp why EA continues to port the game over to the X-Box looking like this!?!? Why is the grass a grayish color? Can the X-Box not do green or grass textures?
Total and complete BULLSH*T!
I really don't enjoy playing Madden online so I go with the GC version....even though the guys at the game store look at me like I'm crazy when I ask for it.
I'm actually glad to see Spooky post about this. I just saved myself a rental fee to see if it was the same old story for the 2006 version. I just wish there was more of a buzz from gamers and game sites to call out EA on it. There is no reason the Xbox version of Madden shouldn't look every bit as good as the Cube.
Boom, Have you picked up the Xbox version yet to compare with the ps2 version you have? Please let me know if things look and play better on ps2? I am about ready to jump shipBoom wrote:When you press the left analog stick in it mutes the voice chat. You should have a little mic in the bottom right hand corner of your screen. if it's red, push the left analog stick in and it will unmute.4. What's the deal with voice chat in this game? Does it cut off automatically ever so often, or was this some problem that Cincy and I were having? We kept having to click to re-establish our connection.
Stupid, I know. I end up muting every damn play because of my death grip on the controller.